Kingdom Tower to set a world record as the tallest new mega-skyscraper

Y! tech (yahoo) ^ | Tues Aug 9, 2011 | Taylor Hatmaker

[posterchild]

A new building soon to be under construction in Saudi Arabia will bump the world's current tallest structure from its sky-high first place status. The futuristic mega-skyscraper known as the Kingdom Tower will be built in Jeddah, a cosmopolitan, commercially-minded port city on the Red Sea. The challenger for the world's tallest building title intends to surpass its closest competition — Dubai's Burj Khalifa — by at least 568 feet.

The Burj Khalifa, completed in 2010, measures a soaring 2,717 feet, but the Kingdom Tower will stand at least 3,281 feet tall, according to Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill — the Chicago-based team that dreamed up the design. Earlier plans for the record-breaking structure put the tower at mile high, but were abandoned due to concerns that arose in soil testing for the site. The triangular structure will be the focal point of Kingdom City, a sprawling urban development that will cost a reported $20 billion.

Kingdom Tower will house a Four Seasons hotel, upscale office space, ultra-luxurious condos (of course), and the world's soon-to-be tallest observatory. Residents will be able to take a trip up on one of the building's 59 elevators, which travel at over 33 feet per second (22 miles per hour), and enjoy the private sky terrace on the 157th floor.

[SaveTheChief]

Sounds like they wanted to build Frank Lloyd Wright’s Illinois Project.

[robowombat]

Let’s see how much the Kingdom donates for famine relief for the masses of Somalis who have fled to Kenya. Somehow these events never seem to to be considered objects of the much vaunted charity that s so. to be ‘one of the pillars of the faith’.

[353FMG]

Why don’t these Saudis use some of that money to help their Somalian fellow Muslims from starving, instead of depending on Uncle Sucker to do so?

And while you guys are at it, allow them to immigrate so that we won’t have to. They would feel so much happier under your sharia law.

[a fool in paradise]

I see they didn't build THIS "world's tallest" in Mecca (where there is a death sentence for any non-muslim who'd dare enter their segregated city).

World's Biggest Clock Begins Ticking in Mecca (Times of India ^ | Aug 12, 2010)

A giant clock on a skyscraper in Islam's holiest city Mecca began ticking on Wednesday at the start of the fasting month of Ramadan, amid hopes by Saudi Arabia it will become the Muslim world's official timekeeper."

[political1]

Looking at the pictures of the sky terrace on the 157th floor. Makes me scared. I could imagine that thing falling of with a bunch of people on it.

[21twelve]

“They would feel so much happier under your sharia law.”

We had a missionary make a few comments in church. One of the things he mentioned about Saudi Arabia were the signs up (last year?) that said something like “Celebrating 60 years of progress with no change.”

[political1]

Looking at the pictures of the sky terrace on the 157th floor. Makes me scared. I could imagine that thing falling of with a bunch off people on it.

[ken5050]

"Windows on the World" atop the World Trade Center..had spectacular views of NYC...You could look out and see planes flying BELOW you as the went in to land at nearby LaGuardia. I loved the place..probably ate there over 100 times.

The walls were all glass..floor to ceiling..12' to 20' tall...and there were no railings at the window walls. You could stand next to the glass..squish your face against it, and sort of look "down"..

The first few months it opened..people were scared...and hardly anyone would walk up near the glass wall...most people stayed several feet away. The managers developed a trick...they had several busboys who had played football in HS, so about every 15 minutes throughout the night...he'd get one of them to run full speed at the glass...run right into it with his shoulder..and bounce off...they crowd would applaud..they'd all give the guy a tip..which is why they kept on doing it..

[politicalmerc]

So they want to build a 157+ story high rise on sand....?

[dfwgator]

They should just put a big “Hit Me” sign out there for the terrorists.

[Caipirabob]

Another indoor outhouse for the sandworms to oppress women, one another and bugger little boys.

Just swell.

[Publius6961]

The 60% of muslims who support mass murder validated (and rhetorically continue to validate) the notion that those who support actions that a country does not like can be considered legitimate targets of war by other means.

Thank you for thr inviting target; the only alternatives, Mecca, Medina and Qom were awkwardly problematic.

Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

[willgolfforfood]

They'll be ticked when the Amish fly a jet into it.

What goes around...

[Clock King]

Once the US get the Leftists out of power, we should go ahead and build the mile-high tower, and the space elevator.

[SaveTheChief]

You have a point. The sky terrace is certainly very dramatic, but it looks like it would not be recommended for the faint of heart.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

A new building soon to be under construction in Saudi Arabia will bump the world's current tallest structure from its sky-high first place status.

Well, here's hoping a bunch of Saudi Muslim fanatics won't fly a plane into it.

[PGR88]

Its a great contra-indicator.

These grandiose mega-towers always come just before economic collapse.

So how will it happen? My guess is oil is going back to $30 per barrel

[5thGenTexan]

I think “Kingdom Tower” is meant to be a play against “Freedom Tower”.

[gigster]

And built with slave labor, like the one in Dubai.